For boys and girls aged 11-17. The last major overhaul of the program was done in 2024. The Arrow of Light rank was added and each rank was streamlined into what was required. Bobcat is no longer a rank award, but a required adventure for each rank.
The Official Announcement for the updated 2024 program.
A Great Summary of the updated 2024 program.
Advancement
The Official 2025 Guide to Advancement from Scouting America.
Council and District Advancement Committees “are responsible for implementing and facilitating advancement and processing most special awards and recognitions, respectively”. They handle higher awards such as Eagle, Summit, and Quatermaster. Unit Advancement Coordinators are over the troop advancement and recorded in Scoutbook Plus. They are over the Beginner Ranks, Star, and Life.
All Scouts BSA must Learn the material, be Tested, hold a Review, and then they are Recognized with the Rank.
FULL LIST of all Rank Requirements
Beginner Ranks – Fulfilled after joining Scouts BSA
- Scout – Basic Information (Unit Advancement Coordinators)
- Tenderfoot (Board of Review)
- Second Class (Board of Review)
- First Class (Board of Review)
Advance Ranks – Fulfilled after completion of Beginner Ranks
To verify the most current Rank Requirements, see the Scouting America webpage.
Special Awards
- Eagle Palms
- National Outdoor Awards
- Full List of Scouting America Awards
Merit Badges
Click here for a full list of current Scouts BSA Merit Badges
Discontinued Merit badges cannot be earned to count towards rank advancement, even if you have the requirements and patch. See page 51 of 2025 Guide to Advancement.
Basic Scouts BSA History
1907 – Founding of Scouting in England by Robert Baden-Powell
1910 – Founding of Boy Scouts of America on February 8th by W. D. Boyce, using Robert Baden-Powell’s program. The purpose was “to teach [boys] patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and kindred values.”
1937 – BSA’s mission statement was expressed as “Each generation as it comes to maturity has no more important duty than that of teaching high ideals and proper behavior to the generation which follows.”
2025 – The current mission statement is “…to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.”
References:
- (2024) Guide to Advancement 2025. Irving, TX: Scouting America.
- A Brief History of the BSA 1910 to Today (continued) (no date) A brief history of the BSA. Available at: https://www.troop97.net/bsahist2.htm#:~:text=In%201967%2C%20Cub%20Scouting%20dropped,the%20Arrow%20of%20Light%20rank). (Accessed: 22 December 2024).
- Mission & Vision (2019) Scouting America. Available at: https://www.scouting.org/legal/mission/ (Accessed: 22 December 2024).
- The National and World Jamborees in Pictures. New York: Boy Scouts of America. 1937. p. 131.
Go back to the Scouting America page.
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